Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince takes place during the fifth year of Harry's life at Hogwarts School, where he must face Lord Voldemort and his followers. The game follows the movie plot, with Harry navigating through various challenges and obstacles to uncover the secrets behind an ancient spellbook known as the Half-Blood Prince.
The gameplay is action-packed and adventurous, with a mix of exploration and mini-games. Players can explore the school at their own pace, unlocking new areas and finding hidden crests that grant achievements and trophies. However, Harry's physical abilities are limited due to his injuries, so he relies on magic spells to overcome obstacles.
The game features three main mini-games: magic duels, brewing potions, and quidditch. In magic duels, players must recreate magical movements using their input device to defeat opponents. Quidditch is a fast-paced reaction test where Harry's broom flies automatically, and the player must move it to catch rings or avoid obstacles. Brewing potions requires players to recreate recipes by using ingredients in the correct order on a virtual stove.